Deck Cleaning News

Having your wood deck properly maintained every couple of years is a great way to protect its beauty and value. Some home owners neglect their wood deck so long that it becomes an eye sore. A deck that is cleaned and sealed correctly, with the right cleaners, sealers and methods, will remain in good condition for several years. To have your deck looking good all the time, maintenance is required every couple of years. Maintenance methods will differ with every deck cleaning company but usually it will include a light washing and a re-seal of all the horizontal surfaces like the deck floor, steps and top hand rails. Every second maintenance coat, or every forth year, the entire deck needs to be washed and re-coated including the rim boards and spindles. Being on a deck cleaning maintenance schedule like this with a quality deck cleaning company will mean a beautiful looking deck that you and your family can enjoy for many seasons.

Deck Cleaning Review

Deck cleaning and sealing maintenance are very accepted services among home owners who recognize how important it can be to the life expectancy of their deck. With cleaning and sealing, the largest factor in doing the job correctly is choosing the proper cleaners and sealers.

Preparing the wood suitably is just as important as the superiority of sealer that will be used. The most frequent reason a sealer falls short of expectations is because the wood was not prepared appropriately. It will not matter if the sealer being used is extremely expensive if the wood is not prepped appropriately the sealer will fail ahead of time.

Another reality to note is that wood is in fact very soft and can be brutally damaged and marked up from a high pressure washer. It is probably best to practice washing on a scrap piece of wood similar to that your deck was built with. If you don’t have a scrap piece of wood, try it on an inconspicuous location on your deck that is more or less out of sight.

If you are not practiced with operating a power washing unit or you don't have experience in deck cleaning, you may not want to embark upon a deck restoration project yourself. The favorable resolution is to hire a professional deck cleaning company to do the job for you.

Pressure Washing Tips

Many home owners around the country prefer to take on their own exterior cleaning projects. Some may have had a bad experience with an unethical contractor in the past or they may just enjoy the satisfaction of being a do-it-yourselfer. Whatever the case; attempting a project like cleaning your homes exterior can be a frightening task. Most accidents resulting in personal injury or property damage are caused from a lack of knowledge. You can help this situation by doing your homework and researching cleaning methods and techniques. For instance, the Vinyl Siding Institute has guidelines and suggestions for cleaning siding as do most of the major shingle manufacturers for cleaning shingle roofs. Knowing these guidelines and other pressure washing tips can make your exterior cleaning task a little easier and safer. It can also help to reduce the risk of damaging your siding, roof, deck, or other surfaces around your property.

Power Washing Your Home

Your home is probably your largest investment and you know it is well worth the time and effort to take care of it. Power washing can increase your homes curb appeal which reflects on your image. Cleaning the exterior of your home and property can also increase its value, but it can be a daunting task. Finding a professional contractor that offers power washing services can be well worth the effort and cost. A reputable contractor will have the proper knowledge, equipment, and cleaners necessary to do the job properly and in a timely fashion. The end result for you is a well maintained home, free of dirt, mold, and mildew which will cause rot and decay. Having these services done eliminates the risk of future repairs, renovations, and replacements of the building materials that make up your home. Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or looking to hire a contractor, taking care of your homes exterior helps to protect your largest investment.

Roof Algae Analysis

Can you really clean a shingle roof? The major shingle manufacturers say the answer is yes. Asphalt shingles suffering from a type of airborne algae called Gloeocapsa Magma can be cleaned to restore the roof’s appearance. This alga appears as black stains or streaks on your roof.

Roof algae normally first appears on the north facing slopes of the roof where the prevailing amount of shade and moisture are present. The algae lands on the roof and feeds on nutrients in the shingles, as it rains the algae is spread down the roof causing the black streaks.
This condition will deteriorate the roof prematurely by not letting the shingles reflect heat like they need to.

The good news is this alga can be killed and removed by using methods recommended by the shingle manufacturers without causing damage to the shingles. Having your algae covered roof cleaned, while the shingles are still in good shape, is a great way to save yourself the cost of a total roof replacement and insure you'll get the full life out of your roof.

Low Pressure Techniques

What does it mean when a contractor says he uses low pressure washing methods? Low pressure washing is using very low pounds per square inch (psi) of water pressure to clean with. Contractors using low pressure rely on their cleaners to do the work and the gallons per minute (gpm) to do the washing and rinsing. This method of low pressure, quality cleaners, and high gallons per minute is very effective in cleaning most anything on your property. This method also eliminates risk of damaging your property like forcing water behind your home’s siding or shredding the wood fibers on your deck.

Contractors not using the low pressure method will be using high water pressure to blast the surface clean instead of depending on quality cleaners to do the work. High pressure can no doubt damage vinyl siding, decks, roofs, and even certain types of cement and brick. Make sure you, or the contractor you hire, use the low pressure washing method.

Pressure Cleaning Your Property

Your home and property are probably easily your largest investment. Keeping them clean and free of natural and man-made contaminants will insure they keep their value. Contaminants such as dirt, mold, mildew, and algae can and will lead to rot, decay, and premature failure of the building materials that make up your home. Having your property and home professional cleaned can literally put money in your pocket by cutting down on costly renovations, repairs, and replacements. Cleaning your home’s siding, roof, deck, and concrete can also be a great way to improve its curb appeal and add value. By not taking care of your property you are certainly costing yourself money in the long run but doing the work yourself can definitely be a daunting task. You may consider hiring a professional cleaning contractor to do the work for you. Its worth paying for a good service to know your home and property are being cleaned properly.

Choosing a Pressure Washing Contractor

Choosing a pressure washing contractor is not easy. Why? Because you are overwhelmed with misleading advertising, confusing claims, and false information. From ridiculously low prices and high pressure sales, to unqualified contractors and near worthless methods, how do you ever find a qualified, competent, reputable power washing contractor?

Start by reading this free report on how to choose a power washing contractor. In this fact-filled section, you will discover how to avoid four power washing rip-offs, six misconceptions of power washing, eight mistakes to avoid when choosing a contractor, and four steps to protecting your investment.

After reading this, you will be able to make an informed, intelligent decision when hiring a pressure washing contractor.

DIY Deck Cleaning

Restoring a wood deck may not be something the average home owner should tackle. Decks can be severely damaged by power washers so if you are going to attempt this yourself, test your water pressure on a scrap piece of wood first.

It is critical to determine whether the deck needs to be stripped of an old failing sealer or if it just needs cleaned. To determine this splash some water on different areas of the deck, if the water absorbs quickly then most likely the deck has never been sealed. Moreover, if the water beads up on the deck then there is a presence of an old sealer and the deck will need to be stripped. The deck is washed in the same manner in both instances; the only difference will be whether you have to use a deck sealer stripping agent or a deck cleaner.

Once you have the proper cleaning equipment, contractor grade deck cleaner and wood sealer, it is time to get to work. Start by applying the deck cleaning solution as directed in the instructions. The instructions for the cleaner should give you an approximate time to wait before washing. Once it's time to wash, start at one end of the deck and work your way across and remember not to get too close to the wood with the tip of the wand.

Rinse the deck thoroughly and apply a contractor grade brightener to the wood following the directions and then rinse thoroughly once more. It is very important for you to read and follow the instructions for the wood sealer you purchased. Failure to apply the sealer as directed could lead to disaster and ruin the deck permanently! You may want to consider hiring a deck cleaning contractor to do the entire job for you.

Wood Deck Cleaning

Adding a deck to your home is a popular choice with homeowners today. It can increase the value of your home, add living space, and can be enjoyed by family and friends for years to come. In this country, one in three home's has a deck, but with all these decks comes a lot of maintenance. Wooden decks have to be protected from sun and water damage with a deck sealer but when done right, they are beautiful to look at and will last for years. Like in most trade professions there is a lot more to doing the work correctly than meets the eye, and professional deck cleaning in no exception. A good deck cleaning contractor can restore your deck and seal it properly to protect it from the elements, and can maintain the look of your deck every couple of years. With so many unprofessional and unethical contractors flooding the market, finding one you can trust is the key. Like with any profession you want to do your homework for that particular field and make sure you find a knowledgeable and reputable contractor that is going to help you to protect your investment. Asking lots of questions and finding out what their customers are saying about them can be very revealing in helping you to make a decision.

Power Washing in Indiana

Welcome to the blog of Midwest Pro Wash. We are a pressure washing company offering pressure wash services in the northern Indiana area. Some of our services are deck cleaning, concrete cleaning, whole house cleaning, low pressure roof cleaning, building washing, gutter cleaning, and fleet washing. We serve most of northern Indiana, you can visit our website to see if you are included in our service area. We also do something that is unique to the industry, we give consumers free information so they can make an informed and intelligent decision when hiring a power washing contractor. Read our free pro wash report at midwestprowash.com for more information. We have dedicated our business to consumer education and service. Please stop by often for updated tips, news, and information to better help you. Thanks for visiting the blog of Midwest Pro Wash.

Cleaning Concrete

No matter how much effort you put into cleaning your home, stained driveways and sidewalks will diminish the overall look and take away from the beauty of your property if not cleaned to match. Power washing concrete clean adds curb appeal to your home and will provide a welcome path to your homes entrance. Most people do not realize how dirty their driveway, sidewalks, or patios are until they have them cleaned. A professional house cleaning and concrete cleaning can also and value to your home. The president of the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers says, "a good first appearance on a home can add as much as 5 to10 percent to the value of the home." Concrete cleaning can also save you the cost and trouble of future renovations and replacements due to the negative effects of dirt, mold, and mildew.

Pressure Washing Tips

A pressure washer can have a lot of uses around your property for the do-it-yourselfer. Here are some tips to consider before cleaning up your property.

1. Always wear the proper protective equipment (eye wear, gloves, and ventilation mask).
2. Be sure to check the oil level in your unit’s engine and pump before operating.
3. Always hook up your garden hose and supply water to the unit before starting it.
4. Make sure all pressure hose connections and fittings are properly secured.
5. Check to make sure the unit’s exhaust pipe is free of debris, not too close to any surface that could melt, and that there is adequate ventilation.
6. After starting the power washer, don’t allow the unit to run for more than a minute without circulating water through the pump, this is achieved by pulling the trigger on the wand.
7. When changing wand nozzles be sure the nozzle is fully seated in the wand’s quick connect, you should be able to spin the nozzle if its properly seated.
8. Before pulling the trigger always point the wand in a safe direction.
9. Don’t get too close to surfaces that may be damaged by too much water pressure.
10. Keep the wand tip away from your skin or anybody else’s, even a couple hundred PSI can cause injury to you or others.
11. Change the pump and engine oil once a season.
12. Be sure to antifreeze the pump if being stored outdoors in freezing climates.
13. Don’t take on any projects you feel uncomfortable doing, you can always request a free power washing estimate from a professional.

Following these tips will help to insure your safety and to keep your pressure washing unit running trouble free for years to come.

A Common Mistake About Pressure Washing

Spraying from a ladder or at an upward angle.

Using a pressure washer from a ladder is obviously dangerous and not recommended. Even with a ladder, most of the time you still can't reach the high areas of your home without spraying the vinyl at an upward angle. Doing this forces water under and behind the siding. The weep holes on the bottom lip of siding are meant to drain moisture buildup, not large amounts of water. This leaves water behind the siding, risking water damage. Another trouble spot is the gutters and fascia areas. Dirt and moisture create an electrostatic bond to this type of metal. It takes the right cleaners and equipment to break this bond and get these areas clean again. Ignoring these areas altogether will be risking rot and decay of the wood and other building materials that make up your home. If your thinking about getting a power washing estimate, be sure to discuss these concerns with the contractor.

Another Power Washing Myth

Consumer Grade Cleaners Are Effective

Consumer grade cleaners like house, roof, concrete, or deck wash are safe for consumers to handle. The unfortunate result: they are not effective and in some professionals opinions, are worthless. Not using cleaners at all and relying only on the high pressure from a pressure washer is not a good alternative either. Using "contractor" grade cleaners and low pressure is the only way to completely remove dirt, grime, mold, mildew, algae, cobwebs, and bird droppings safely without causing damage to your property. By using inferior cleaners, or none at all, the contaminates are lessened at best. When mold, mildew, and algae are not killed and removed completely they will return in a short time, jeopardizing your home's value. These contaminates will cause rot, decay, and premature failure of coatings and building materials. Another alternative is to hire a professional pressure washing contractor to do the work for you. Make sure you ask the contractor questions and discuss your concerns before hiring.

3 Major Myths About Pressure Washing (a 3 part series)

The More Pressure the Better

Most believe that water pressure (psi) is what does the cleaning; after all, it is called a pressure washer. The truth is that excessive pressure will force water where it’s not wanted and can damage surfaces such as vinyl siding, wood, asphalt shingles, and certain types of brick and concrete. No more than 1,000 psi should be used to clean wood, or wood fibers can be damaged, causing unsightly scars and wand marks that will show through the sealer. More than 800 psi can force water behind vinyl siding causing water damage. No more than garden hose pressure should be used on asphalt shingles, or shingle granules will be washed away, lessening the longevity of your roof. The proper way to clean these surfaces is to rely on the cleaners to do the work and then use low pressure to rinse clean. The lowering of the psi is achieved by changing the tip or nozzle, at the end of your wand, to one with a larger orifice. Make sure the contractor you hire uses the low pressure cleaning method.

Pressure Washing Report Center

Our new site is now online and ready for visitors to explore. Indiana residents will be able to request estimates for power washing services online and have a representative contact them to schedule an appointment. Visit Midwest Pro Wash online and checkout our Free Pro Wash Reports for the lates news and thing to look out for when choosing a pressure washer.

Look forward to hearing from you soon
Midwest Pro Wash